Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Granny Square Baby Blanket Tutorial

These are the bamboo crochet hooks I bought at Smoky Mountain Spinnery, I think I'm in love!
I am seriously addicted! I don't think I can ever go back.
EDITED TO ADD: After several inquiries about this hook set, I gave the owner of the shop a call. She said that she is more than happy to ship, she does carry these Japanese baboo hook sets on a regular basis, and they cost $55 (they are well worth it, I promise). The number you need to call is865-436-9080.
I have been working on this blanket for an upcoming baby shower. I like it because the pattern stays the same so you don't have to carry instructions around, it's a good on-the-go project. This pattern is also great for beginners because it's good practice without the complicated pattern to follow. The pattern itself is as old as the hills, but so beautiful and classic. I worked this blanket in my three favorite girl colors, pink, white, and natural. I achieved this look by changing colors at the start of each row. I used sport weight, cotton, yarn and a size G crochet hook for this blanket.

Chain 6.

Slip stitch to beginning chain to form a loop.

Chain 3, this counts as your first double crochet.
Work 2 double crochet through loop. Chain 3.
Work the pattern - chain 3 and 3 double crochet - until you have four sets in the loop.
Slip stitch to the top of chain 3 (in row 1). You now have your base square.

Chain three, turn, work 2 double crochet. Note: To finish the corner pictured here, I worked 1 more double crochet, chain 3 and three double crochet. In each corner of the square there will be 3 double crochet, chain 3, then three double crochet.
Join with a slip stitch at beginning chain.
Chain three and turn.
To make this a blanket you will just keep going in rounds using this pattern:

3 double crochet , chain 3.

In each corner 3 double crochet, chain 3, 3 double crochet.

Slip stitch at the end of each round, chain 3 and turn.

When the blanket is the size you want it, chain 1, single crochet in every stitch around. If you used the cotton yarn and feel it looks a little wonky, all you have to do is "block" it. I found good blocking instructions HERE . You can now add your favorite edging or run ribbon through the holes from the row, or just do both! I hope you have fun with this old pattern. I will add a picture of my finished blanket in a few days.

Edited to add finished pictures:

Tip:

I've had trouble lately with my thread getting dirty and "running" away from me. This was my solution: I took an old, small, coffee can, put a hole in the top big enough for my thread to come through, and put the thread inside. Now my thread stays clean and it stays right at my feet while I work.

Love the granny sqare afghan...never thought of using the cotton for it...have to catch it on sale sometime and make one...any idea how many balls it takes???

I also love your idea of the coffee container for the runaway yarn. I bought some 16oz Red Heart at Big Lots for $4 each. Two of them, you can't get the yarn out of the center, I HATE THAT!!!...I wish I had a big enough container for those big skeins to do something like that with....

I love your website! I saw your add in Sew Beautiful. Do you know how I can get a tutorial or pattern for the baby booties which one crochets with #10 thread? I am a novice, btw. PLEASE email me your answer! Thank you! Margo

Well there are so many ways to do this, and I have tried just about all of them! The one that works best for me has been an old fasioned square knot (you know right over left, left over right). I just leave my hook in the last stitch and tie the knot as close to the hook as possible and keep on crocheting like there is no knot. Then when I am done with the project I go back and weave all of the ends in. Hope this helps!

well, this post inspired me to pick up that crochet hook that has been collecting dust in my art closet for years... and i spent the whole evening practicing! now, i already have a potholder size piece of my blanket, and am so proud. before, i had only done straight crocheting. thanks for the inspiration!

I LOVE those hooks, is there a website you can post, so that people who are drooling can buy some *hint**hint*me!*hint**hint*And what yarn is that? I think I'm in love! Especially the pink, I LOVE that color!

I got those at a little yarn shop in Gatlinburg, TN. You could probably give the owner a call and see if she has any more. http://www.smokymountainspinnery.com/Welcome.htmlAnd the yarn is called Paton's Grace from Michaels (you can also find it online :)

****************************************Maddie,I'm so glad you found it! I looked and looked but I guess I have thrown out all of my wrappers for that color! I was going to check at Micheals the next time I was out to get the correct color for ya :) I'm glad you didn't have to wait oon me!

I'm very attracted to your bamboo crochet hook set.I'm an athome mom & I do a lot of crocheting. Where can I get one just like yours. & how much is it - not too expensive I hope. Please let me know.Here's my email add if you don't mind sending me an email regarding this bamboo crochet hook. Thanks a lot. lizric41@yahoo.com

Hello friends,After several inquiries about this hook set, I gave the owner of the shop a call. She said that she is more than happy to ship, she does carry these Japanese baboo hook sets on a regular basis, and they cost $55 (they are well worth it, I promise). The number you need to call is 865-436-9080.

This is a beautiful blanket. I'm a beginning crocheter, for the second time in my life, and COULD NOT read and understand most patterns, until now!! You have made it so easy to understand. Yhe pictures help out alot. I'm waiting on grandbaby #8 (Troy), to be born any minute and I'm going to make this one for him, in blue, of course!! Thanks again!!

Hey! I just started to crochet and couldn't find a square pattern that I could do (for some reason) but I tried this one and it clicked. It's very easy and beautiful! Thanks so much for posting it! :) --crystal

When you say chain 3, do you mean 3 new chain, so not counting the loop the one that is on your hook? Or does the one one your hook count as the 1st chain? This is where I get confused. Therest of your constructions I can follow, it is just doing it so that mine looks the same... Thank you, Claudia

I'm so excited that I found this! I know it's like the oldest and one of the easiest blanket paterns, and I remember making one with my great-aunt years ago, but I couldn't for the life of me, remember how to get it started (lame, right?) I'm very visual, and either need someone showing me hands on or great pictures, and you've got GREAT pictures! Thank You!

Very nice pattern.... But a word to the wise, Never put a ribbon in a baby blanket. It is easy for the ribbon to 'bunch up' and for a loop or two to come loose and then you have something that a baby can easily choke on. Just wanted to warn everyone because my Mom has had it nearly hurt a baby.... Thanks and God Bless. I <3 Granny Squares! =]

That is so easy!!! I've been looking for easy crochet pattern for my new baby blanket project. Some sites give me difficulty to understand the tutorial. Thank God i found yours. Thanks for sharing, i will definitely use this pattern :)

I've started working on this pattern...so simple and lovely already! One question: whenever you start a new row, do you chain 3 (as the first double crochet) and then do 2 double crochets, or do you chain 3 and then chain 3 double crochets? Thanks for your help!

Hi Samantha,I'm one of the Editors at http://www.allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com/ and I just wanted to let you know I have linked to your project on our site. You can see the project and thumbnail at: http://allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com/Baby-Blanket-Afghans/Granny-Square-Baby-Blanket-Tutorial. I think it's a great project that our readers will just love to make. Your project is great and we know our readers will enjoy it. With that said, can we have permission to link to any project on your site as well as use the image? We will credit you, of course. Feel free to contact me at jlitz (at) primcp (dot) com. Thanks!

Just to let you know, instead of chaining 3 in between each set of three double crochets, I am chaining 2. Simply because there was so much extra room there was left over chain and it made it look very sloppy. This improvement made it much more tight, neat, and professional.

I just finished my 1st granny square blanket. It was so easy. I made the middle pink, then a wide band of white, then 2 rows of brown. It is so pretty! I did ch2 between the 3dc even in the corners and it's perfect! I'm going to make a rainbow one next, I'm hooked.

Hello again I am the person who talked about chaining 2 instead of 3, and I would just like u to know this pattern is awesome and super simple for a very young beginning crocheter like myself. It takes some time, so u must be patient I started in March and I'm still working on it. It is turning out beautiful, I used very hot pink and neon lime green and it is great! I'm gonna use ur finishing technique too! Thank u so much for the pattern! I've tried other afghans but this is the first one I think I'm actually gonna finish!

Hi! It is the person who talked about chaining two instead of 3 again. I just wanted to tell you that whenever I think of crocheting an aphgan this pattern comes to mind. Great pattern, super simple. Thank you so much for posting it! Great work and keep on crocheting!

I loved how easy your directions are to follow! I'm making donations to a hospital nicu and this may just be a pattern I use. I have also had the same problem with run away yarn. I am on the road a lot and finally got a yarn carrier from Hobby lobby that is made to take care of that problem as well as transport the project. I use it as home as well as on the road :)

hi! Thanks for the pattern. My grandmother, who is no longer with us, made me baby blanket. It was a large granny square, and it was only about 10-15 rounds! yet it was the normal size of a baby blanket. I'm not sure how she did it!! Can you possible help me? thanks/